TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A ship carrying aid for Gaza has been attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group organizing the mission. The aid was sent amid the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza.
In a statement quoted by Al Jazeera on Friday, May 2, 2025, the FFC said that the ship was targeted in two drone attacks while en route to Gaza. The ship was attempting to deliver aid to the besieged region. In the past two months, Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving the local population struggling to survive.
FFC said armed drones attacked the unarmed civilian ship twice, causing fires and extensive damage to the ship's hull.
The statement did not directly accuse Israel of the attacks. However, the FFC demands that the Israeli ambassador be summoned and held accountable for violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of a civilian ship in international waters. Israel has not commented on the drone attacks.
Nicole Jenes of the FFC said the attack on the ship occurred on Friday. The attack caused the ship to sustain damage and the engine to catch fire. The attack put 30 Turkish and Azerbaijani activists aboard in a struggle to prevent it from sinking.
The Maltese government announced on Friday that the fire on the ship had been successfully contained. The authorities are monitoring the ship. It is unclear whether the authorities have intervened directly to extinguish the fire.
Jenes, currently in Malta, said that the group is unaware of the situation aboard the ship as communication with the crew has been cut off. “They were hiding in the night in the rooms of the ship because they were afraid of the drones … We lost contact with them,” she said.
The FFC was formed by peace activists from several countries last year. To deliver aid to Gaza, they used modified trawler ships to break through the Israeli blockade.
Israel halted humanitarian aid two months ago, shortly before breaking the ceasefire and resuming the war against Hamas. Over 50,000 people have died in Gaza.
“It’s very important to … understand this attack is an extension of the genocide that is happening in Gaza and cannot pass unpunished,” Jenes said. She emphasized that the FFC calls for the world's attention to be diverted to the blockade.
Several parties call for Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza. The United Nations has urged Israel to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. As quoted by Antara, Tom Fletcher, UN emergency relief coordinator, said international law cannot be denied. Israel must allow humanitarian support to enter. Aid and the lives of the civilian saved must not be used as bargaining chips.
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